Smooth Negotiations

Did he really take that long? Did he really spend too much time looking at old rocks? Did he really take his sweet time walking through the forest?

Those thoughts, and many others, swirled around in Gray’s head like a tornado as he sat in his seat in a Bullhead airship. Other prospective students were scattered around and wallowing in pity and embarrassment. Gray ignored all of them as he went over in his mind on just what he had done wrong.

When he thought about it, he realized that he definitely moved with more caution than with urgency. Any time he thought about picking up the pace he was almost immediately distracted by any potentially ancient stone site. His objective was supposed to be simple: get to the north end of the forest, find the temple and relic, then bug out.

Getting side-tracked by large rocks should never have been the concern.

Gray groaned, a low growl hidden under the sound. Nobody cared though, as his Semblance was up and hiding his shame.

Apparently, the test had concluded not long after Gray had reached the temple. Upon discovering the place and noticing the empty stone plinths Gray had grown uneasy. Not knowing what to do next he had climbed to the top of the temple to take a look around. Maybe there was another place he had missed?

Fat chance of that.

The building he had found was the most obvious location in the northern end of the Emerald forest. A literal sore thumb sticking out of the ground. The most likely place for students to find.

Gray had slumped down on top of one of the stone blocks being held up by a pillar and kept his Semblance off, waiting until the professors rounded up the stragglers. He only had to wait roughly ten minutes before he heard a Bullhead pass overhead.

They descended to his level and ushered him on board. He avoided looking into the faces of anyone he saw and immediately slammed his Semblance in place the moment he had stepped onto the ship. Gray didn’t think he could take any pitying looks right then.

Now they were on their way back to Beacon.

Gray had an elbow on an armrest, his head leaning into his hand as he glumly watched the world outside the window pass by. He could hear someone trying to hold back tears somewhere behind him, prompting him to cringe.

Gray gave a heavy sigh and let the ship carry him to an uncertain future.

---

The students were directed to a room where a professor was waiting. Probably to give them some spiel about how not passing initiation wasn’t the end, or something. That there were other opportunities and careers to chase.

Gray didn’t want to hear it really.

He was mad. Mad at himself. Mad at the test. Mad at... just... just mad.

The portly professor had a friendly presence and a reassuring tone when he spoke to the failed would-be students. “I am sure all of you did your best. No one can fault you for that. However regretful it is to say this--”

“I didn’t fail.”

Gray didn’t know what prompted him to speak up but he knew he was being petty the moment he spoke.

The professor paused in his speech. “Pardon?”

“I didn’t fail.” Gray repeated, a stubborn and petulant side of him rearing its head. Of course, he failed. He failed to get to the temple in time. He failed to find a partner. He failed to rein in his curiosity in the forest. He failed.

But he still stood there, seething and glaring at the professor. He knew he was being a sore loser about it. He wasn’t thinking straight.

“Oh, my apologies. I’m not sure how we made the mistake. Please make your way to the auditorium.” The round professor said.

Any stray thoughts Gray had in his head were blown away by those words. He stared blankly at the man, his moustache and oddly closed eyes hiding some of his expression. Gray couldn’t tell if he was being mocked. The man gave nothing away before turning back to the rest of the failed students to continue his speech.

Gray’s confusion continued too, until he remembered that his Semblance was still active. His eyes went wide in shock. Did he just alter how the professor viewed his failure? Though, thinking about it, he really shouldn’t be surprised. He had been testing his Semblance and changing people's perceptions since he discovered it.

Yet, it was the scale of this new change in perception that rocked him.

He failed the test, and yet all he had to do was say he didn’t fail and it would be true?

The possibilities of this power had him a little woozy. Gray moved over to the wall by the door and leaned against it, no longer listening to the professor.

Could he go so far as to rob a bank with this power? Of course, he wouldn’t want to take other people’s money, but the implications were staggering. Just how powerful was his Semblance? Was there anyone that it didn’t work on? Could he change the perception of every professor in the school? Even Ozpin?

He had to try. If he wanted to stay in this school and not be kicked out, he had to try and convince the Headmaster that he hadn’t failed. Gray knew that this was basically cheating his way in but if he wanted to become a Huntsman, he absolutely needed to attend an Academy.

He couldn’t fight Grimm with this Semblance so he couldn’t rely on it all the time. If he wanted to help make the world a safer place, he needed the training. Also, he couldn’t deny that he didn’t want to leave his new female friends behind.

He knew he was being selfish. He knew that on some level it was wrong and immoral to cheat his way into the school and to play around with the female students, but... He already knew he was selfish. Even before he discovered is Semblance, he had a history of being selfish and taking advantage. Even if no one found out.

But this was on a whole other scale.

With his Semblance Gray could talk his way to the top of the world. Theoretically.

He made up his mind. Eying the fat professor, Gray moved to the door. He opened it and left the room with its sad occupants behind and walked down the quiet corridor. No one called out to stop him.

The corridor was a little dark with only the occasional light fixture in the ceiling to give illumination. The sun had set, turning the windows along one side of the corridor into imperfect mirrors. If he looked closely Gray could see the dark blotchy shapes of trees lining the pathways outside.

As he walked Gray felt adrift. Like a tether had been cut away. A ship without an anchor. For the first time in his life the systems created by the adults couldn’t help him feel secure. There was no sense of safety in this moment for Gray. For most of a kid's life everything was taken care of by the adults until they gradually learned responsibility. Even those students who failed would eventually find a security net waiting for them in the form of another job or career choice. The systems put in place would ensure that they would find a place for themselves. Unless they were so pitifully stubborn and useless that they could only ever become homeless.

Gray, however, felt so removed from it all. His Semblance essentially cut him out of the system. If he hadn’t said that he didn’t fail to that portly professor while using his Semblance, then he too would be pulled along with the system, still sad but reassured of his place. Now though, even if he turned off his power, he didn’t know what would happen. Would he be caught in the lie? Would he be allowed into the school? Was it all within his control? Did he have any control?

It all hinged on whether or not he could convince Ozpin, Professor Goodwitch and every other professor and student in the school.

He needed to get to the auditorium and speak with the Headmaster.

---

When Gray finally made it to the auditorium, not the same one that Ozpin had first spoken to the new students in but one that was located on the inside of the school, he saw a crowd of presumably older students facing the stage and standing in the upper balconies. On the stage itself stood four boys, one of which was that muscled guy that Gray sort of met in the boy’s toilets last night, and Professor Ozpin.

“Russel Thrush, Cardin Winchester, Dove Bronzewing, Sky Lark.” The Headmaster intoned. There was a polite applause as the four boys stood up straighter when they were called. A screen above the stage displayed the portraits of the boys, the pictures of their faces moving into line from off screen. “The four of you retrieved the black bishop pieces.” Those must have been the relics that were mentioned. “From this day forward, you will work together as, Team Cardinal. Led by Cardin Winchester.”

Letters appeared below the faces on the screen, four in total. CRDL, most likely a code for the full name of Cardinal. Each of the four letters related to the names of each boy. A larger applause broke out once all was announced.

The screen went blank and Ozpin immediately moved on to call out other names. The four boys moved off stage.

The names that were called next were ones that piqued Gray’s interest. He moved closer through the crowd to get a better look.

“Jeanne Arc, Lian Ren, Pyrrha Nikos, Nora Valkyrie.”

Two of Gray’s new friends walked on stage along with two others that were familiar. One was the very talkative coffee addict ginger. The other one was her (****?) friend of obvious Mistral descent. The four girls stepped up to Ozpin and stood up straight with hands clasped behind them. Their faces appeared on screen as well.

“The four of you retrieved the white rook pieces. From this day forward you will work together as Team Juniper.” The letters JNPR appeared beneath their faces. The ginger girl jumped on the green girl, wrapping her arms around her neck as another applause broke out. “Led by Jeanne Arc.”

Jeanne looked surprised at that announcement, staring dumbly at the Headmaster until Pyrrha also hugged her and congratulated her. Jeanne came out of her shock and hugged her back, both laughing and giggling.

Once their team was established, they left the stage leaving Gray to wish that he could go with them.

After that a couple other teams were called up. Most of the students comprising them Gray didn’t recognize, besides one student that had also gone to his previous combat school. Eventually, another team was ushered onto the stage, one full of people he recognized.

“Orrin Verdell, Tanner Roux, Classius Alabaster, Nero Sable.”

Gray’s old friends now stood in front of the Headmaster with hands clasped behind their backs. Their faces formed up on the large screen.

“The four of you retrieved the black rook pieces. From this day forward you will work together as Team Techno.” The letters TCNO appeared under their portraits. “Led by Tanner Roux.”

The room broke out into applause again as a small display of wholesome shoves and elbow jabs and fist bumps passed between the boys on stage. A stab of loneliness assailed Gray at the display. He would have preferred being on a team with them to potentially being kicked out.

“And finally, last but most definitely not least,” Ozpin began, prompting the four boys of Team TCNO to leave the stage. “Blake Belladonna, Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee and Yang Xiao Long.”

Gray was wondering when they would show up. He thought that maybe he had missed them since it seemed he had arrived near the tail end of this little assembly. He also found it sort of ironic that these four would be grouped together considering their somewhat turbulent history.

Even so, Gray would have like being on a team with them. Even if the ice princess was also there.

“The four of you retrieved the white knight pieces. From this day forward you will work together as Team Ruby.”

Huh?

Just as that announcement confused Gray he saw the letters appear on screen beneath their faces. RWBY.

Ah. That made sense.

“Led by Ruby Rose.”

Both Gray’s and Ruby’s eyes went wide. That was not what he expected. Yes, she may be incredibly talented, heck even a prodigy, but to make the youngest girl in the school a team leader was surprising to say the least. Which was something Ruby seemed to know as she stared in shock as her sister threw her arms around her.

“I’m so proud of you!!”

A final applause rose from the audience of older students and newly minted teams. Joy and hope for the new school year filled the room, while Gray stood there, surrounded by the crowd, only feeling alone and uncertain.

“It looks like things are shaping up to be an... an interesting year.” Ozpin could be heard saying. Gray eyed the Headmaster. All the possible things he could say or do to ensure his place in this academy swirling around in his head.

Ignorant of Gray’s presence the crowd continued to clap and cheer.

---

There were some final words by Professor Ozpin before they were all dismissed. The older students filed out while the first years were directed out by the faculty and shown where the dorms were. They were advised to pick up their luggage on the way.

Gray kept his eyes on Ozpin, following his every movement. The man stayed on the stage for a while looking out over the departing students before walking off stage. He spoke briefly with a couple professors before they went on their way, to be replaced by Professor Goodwitch.

The two of them were about to leave the room when Gray intercepted them. “Excuse me, Professors?”

Gray still wasn’t sure if his Semblance would work on everyone, or if there would be some select few who could resist him, so approaching a seasoned Huntsman and Huntress like this was nerve wracking. If they caught on to his power, who knew what they would do? Maybe they would detain him and lock him away for trying to brain wash people.

The two adults stopped and turned to Gray. Now that their attention was on him, his anxiety went through the roof.

“How can I help you, Mr...?” Ozpin enquired. He rested his hands on the pommel of his cane and waited for the answer. Goodwitch stood beside him looking as stoic as ever.

“Gray Farran.” He introduced himself in a tight voice.

Ozpin nodded, acknowledging him and waiting for him to speak.

For a moment Gray found it difficult to begin. Words seemed to escape him. “I...I...”

If the two adults were getting impatient, they didn’t show it. In fact, all Gray could see from their expressions was the same as when he had spoken with other people with his Semblance active. That could just be because these two were always in control of their emotions. Or, it could mean that his power was working on them.

The only way to tell was if he told them to do something, and that they did it.

If he could get past his nervousness, that is.

“I... I, I think you... made a mistake.” Gray finally managed to get out.

“And what mistake was that?” Ozpin asked back in that somewhat flat tone. Which could be the usual for him.

Well, he was already here. If Gray was fucked he couldn’t exactly go back now. So, he just kept going, sealing his fate.

“I... believe that... I did pass. The initiation, that is.” Gray gulped and licked his dry lips before finishing with, “Y-You just forgot to put me in a team.”

Then the world stood still.

Gray tensed. His thoughts vacated his mind. His eyes had tunnel vision as each second crawled by. Everything depended on their answer. If he could stay at Beacon. If his Semblance was as powerful as he thought. If he could use it on more experienced people. If he could build for himself a harem of girls.

It all depended on this one small moment. This one fixed point in time.

“Ah. I see. Well, that’s certainly a problem.” Ozpin finally spoke after what seemed like an eternity. To Gray at least.

For a moment Gray felt hope that his power had worked on the two most influential people in the academy, but he held back any feelings of victory until he was sure.

“I’m not sure how we went wrong but I do apologize for the misunderstanding on our part.” The professor told Gray. He said that in a very calm tone, yet Gray could see that his eyes were shifting back and forth above his head, as if searching for something to say. Gray still didn’t let himself hope just yet and waited to see what would happen next. Eventual Ozpin spoke up again. “Unfortunately, the teams have all been made and the students that failed will be leaving soon. We won’t be able to make up another team for you without making exceptions.”

Gray stared for a while at the man, wondering at his words. He asked himself if his Semblance had worked on the older man. It must have, judging by the way Ozpin had simply accepted Gray’s words, that he had in fact passed initiation. It didn’t sound like Gray was being mocked or reprimanded.

It really did sound like it had worked. Only that the man couldn’t think of a solution to the problem.

“You could put me on an already existing team.” Gray offered. Hope finally started to bloom in his chest at the thought of being on a team with four girls. Team RWBY or Team JNPR would work just fine for his purposes.

Ozpin tilted his head in thought. “That’s one possibility. However, that hasn’t been done before. It would be without precedence.”

“Not to mention the amount of paperwork involved and the reformatting of certain things within our databases to make that work.” Professor Goodwitch finally spoke up. She was silent this whole time that when she said something Gray gave a small jump.

“Indeed.” Ozpin agreed.

The hope that Gray was feeling faltered at this admission. They didn’t immediately agree to his idea of joining an established team. They didn’t deny it outright. They made note of the difficulty of making it happen, but ultimately leaned away from that idea.

Gray’s mind reeled back and tried to figure out what was happening. He tried thinking back to when he had gotten the Schnee girl to suck him off. How did he convince her to do it?

Ah.

He just remembered. He didn’t ask her. He told her. He even told her that she would enjoy it.

The way he had worded the request to put him on a five-person team made it sound like a suggestion rather than an order. So, they had naturally balked at the request. Realizing his mistake Gray rushed to fix it.

“You will put me on an already existing team.” Once he said that Gray felt his stomach do a backflip at the very idea of telling a teacher what to do so forcefully.

But Ozpins response had him relaxing again.

“That seems like a fine idea.” He said, nodding as if he hadn’t just basically refused earlier. “I’m sure the paperwork won’t be much of an issue to sort out.”

He glanced at his deputy, to which she sighed and shrugged. “If it must be done, then it must be done.”

Gray felt a large grin take over his face. He was sure that it looked ridiculous, but he couldn’t help it.

To think that his Semblance could work on two of the most experienced people that Gray had ever met, in the field of monster slaying where they must have come across many types of Semblances, definitely had Gray feeling high as a kite.

“Now, all that’s left is what team to place you on.” Ozpin said, looking off to the side as he contemplated Gray’s placement.

Gray rushed to give his next order. “You will put me on a team with four girls.”

He definitely didn't want to be on a team with other guys. A sausage fest didn’t sound like fun and he didn’t want to be on a team that had one or two other dudes in it either.

“Hmm, well, there are only two all-female teams among the first years.” Ozpin contemplated some more after Gray said his piece. “Team RWBY and Team JNPR. Both have quite a lot of potential. And they both have some experienced members...”

There was silence for a moment or two as the older man seemed to be deep in thought. Gray looked between the two adults, just waiting for a resolution to be made. By now the auditorium was almost empty. Only some stragglers were left behind as some older students hung about and chatted.

“I do worry about Team RWBY,” Ozpin finally spoke again. “Initially, I had place young Ms. Rose as the leader because she had shown some exceptionally keen leadership skills during initiation.”

That sounded like a story Gray would like to know the details of. He refrained for the moment though.

“However, I have reason to believe that her teammate, Weiss Schnee, might have trouble coming to terms with that decision. Due to Ruby Rose’s younger age and innocent demeanor, I think this may create tension between the two.” That... was a very fair assessment to make. Gray was reminded of the encounters the two have had on their first day here and couldn’t help but nod along. “With Team JNPR, however, I believe those four will get on swimmingly. So, perhaps placing you with Team RWBY may prove to keep a balance of sorts? Of course, that might be some wishful thinking on my part.” Professor Ozpin scratched his chin in thought before looking at Gray again. “Would you have any reservations about being on their team?”

“None! None whatsoever.” Gray told the man, with a bit too much enthusiasm. The professors didn’t react or care, though.

“Then its decided.” Ozpin announced, a small smile curling at the corner of his mouth. That was the first sign of emotion that Gray saw from the man during this conversation. He didn’t know what to make of it. Was the man pretending to go along with Gray’s ruse? Or was he simply glad to have resolved a potential issue. “You’ll be placed with Team RWBY.”

Ozpin then grew silent as he looked to the side again. “What would the team's name be, then?” He asked to himself.

Gray thought about it too and didn’t like what he came up with. Team GRWBY? That sounded gross. Team RWGBY? He hated sports. Plus, it was a team full of girls, none of which played rugby. That he knew of.

No, he didn’t like any of the names he could come up with so he spoke up, “You don’t have to change the name. Just keep it the way it is.”

Ozpin stopped thinking it over. “Alright then.” The professor accepted that easily and moved on. “I suppose that I’ll have to go and get the paperwork started. Glynda, if you could escort this young man to his room?”

“Certainly, Professor.” The woman nodded and moved her arm as if to say ‘This way please’ before Ozpin interrupted.

“Ah, that reminds me. The dorm rooms are equipped with four beds each. So, there wouldn’t be one ready for you.” The professor said. “We might have to set you up in a different room until we can--”

“No, no! That won’t be necessary. I’ll sort something out with my teammates. You don’t need to worry about it.” Gray jumped in, interrupting what the professor was going to say. No way was he going to be cockblocked now.

Sleep in another room by himself, instead of sleeping with four girls? Hah, lunacy!

“Very well.” Ozpin replied, taking the interruption in stride. “Glynda, if you would?”

Professor Goodwitch nodded and held her arm out again. “Follow me.”

Gray followed the blonde woman as all three of them left the auditorium. Crowds of students were walking off down a corridor. That must be the direction of the dorms.

Ozpin bid Gray a goodnight and went the opposite way. Gray and the blonde professor followed the crowd. Gray took this moment to stare at Goodwitch’s shapely ass as she walked in front.

It worked.

It fucking worked.

He convinced them to let him stay at Beacon Academy. And he managed to get put on a team with four girls too!

Now, Gray only wondered if he had to use his Semblance on each of the teachers in case they questioned Ozpin’s decision. The orders Gray made while under the blanket of his Semblance might be limited to just the people who heard the order in the first place. For example, if he told Glynda to walk through the hall naked, she would do it of course, but other people might have something to say about it.

Originally, Gray wanted to test this potential hole in his power last night when he was talking with Jeanne, Ruby, Yang and Pyrrha. He wanted to see if he might get a response if he, for example, made Yang do jumping jacks or something.

If he commanded someone to do something crazy and no one questioned it, that would make his Semblance the most over-powered thing he has ever heard of. If his Semblance didn’t do that, then he would have to get used to doing clean-up all the time.

Like when they would eventually get to Team RWBY’s room. If Gray didn’t say anything or turned his Semblance off, what would they say? Would they object? Would the Semblance affect them the way it does with pictures on a scroll? Or, would he have to smooth things over by commanding the girls to accept things?

Gray decided that letting things play out for now would be the best test. See how they react first, then he would react accordingly.

For now, Gray let his Semblance go and followed Professor Goodwitch to his new room.